PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Downwind turn discussion
View Single Post
Old 3rd Feb 2017, 12:39
  #92 (permalink)  
Shaggy Sheep Driver
 
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: UK
Posts: 3,325
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
mikehallam - very true, and particularly effective on Concorde where there is lot more wing area, and a lot closer to the ground on landing, at the back of the aeroplane rather than the front.

A Concorde captain described to me landing the beautiful white bird as easy if you maintain the attitude. But as the aeroplane flies into ground effect this acts much more at the back of the aeroplane because of the above, and tends to force the nose down just before touchdown. This must be countered by the pilot easing back just enough to prevent that nose drop and maintain a constant attitude, whereupon the main wheels, he said, will touch down in elegant style.

Thus one does ease back on landing as in a conventional aeroplane, but it's not a flare, it's just to counter that ground effect... effect!
Shaggy Sheep Driver is offline